1. Who may register?
   
   All Filipino citizens who will be in Vietnam (or abroad) during election time, who intend to vote, not otherwise disqualified by law, and at least eighteen (18) years of age on the day of the elections.
   
   
2. Who may not register?
   
   
   • Those who already registered as overseas absentee voters in 2003 and 2006 and have voted at least once. (Note: Registered voters who did not vote in two consecutive elections (the 2004 and 2007 elections) will be deleted from the list of registered voters; hence they have to register anew if they wish to vote in the 2010 elections.)
   • Those who have lost their Philippine citizenship in accordance with Philippine laws.
   • Those who have expressly renounced their Philippine citizenship and who have pledged allegiance to a foreign country, except those who have reacquired or retained their Philippine citizenship under the “Citizenship Retention and Reacquisition Act of 2003.”
   • Those convicted by final judgment of a court or tribunal of an offense punishable by imprisonment of not less than one (1) year, unless such disability has been removed by plenary pardon or amnesty. (Note: Those convicted by final judgment shall acquire the right to register upon expiration of 5 years after the service of sentence.)
   • Any citizen of the Philippines abroad previously declared insane or incompetent by competent authority in the Philippines abroad, unless such competent authority subsequently certifies that such person is no longer insane or incompetent.
   • An immigrant or permanent resident who is recognized as such in Vietnam, unless he executes upon filing of an application for registration, an affidavit declaring that he/she shall resume actual physical permanent residence in the Philippines and that he/she has not applied for citizenship in another country.
     
     
3. When is OAV registration going to be held?
   
   

   Hanoi        1 December 2008 – 31 August 2009        9:00 A.M. – 12:00 PM and 1:00 – 6:00 P.M.        (Wed-Sun)

   Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC)        to be announced

   
   
4. Where is the venue for the OAV Registration?
   
   

   Hanoi: Philippine Embassy 27B Tran Hung Dao Street

   Ho Chi Minh City: Philippine Consulate General Unit A-Level 11, OSIC Bldg,No. 8 Nguyen Hue Blvd., District 1

   
   
5. What is the difference between Registration and Certification?
   
   REGISTRATION is for first-time applicants who have not been a registered voter at all. CERTIFICATION is for those who are already registered voters in the Philippines.
   
   
6. What are the requirements for registration/certification?
   
   A valid Philippine Passport and a photocopy of its data pages.
   
   Additional requirement for Dual Citizens: the original or certified true copy of Order of Approval of application to retain or reacquire Philippine citizenship, and the Oath of Allegiance issued by the Philippine Embassy or Bureau of Immigration.
   
   
7. What are the steps in the OAV registration/certification?
   1. Submit photocopy of the valid passport to the COMELEC representative at the Embassy.
   2. Fill out the application form for registration/certification.
   3. Submit yourself to biometrics capture (photo, signature, thumb marks).
      
      
8. I am a registered overseas absentee voter in another country before coming to Vietnam. Do I have to register again here? NO. However, you have to apply for a transfer of your registration records at the Embassy not later than 31 August 2009 so that your name can be included in the Certified List of Overseas Absentee Voters (CLOAV) qualified to vote in Vietnam. Once your application is approved by COMELEC, your name will be deleted in the CLOAV of the country where you previously stayed.
   
   
9. I am a registered voter in Vietnam (or another country) but I will be in the Philippines come election time. What shall I do? You have to apply for transfer of registration records at the Embassy/Consulate or at the local registration center of your residence in the Philippines not later than 30 November 2009.
   
   
10. Will I be given a Voter’s ID upon filing of application for registration/certification? No. At the moment, COMELEC is working on improving its system of printing out the IDs of registered overseas absentee voters. Information on this matter will be made available in due course.

For inquiries, visit or call the Philippine Embassy at:

Address: 27B Tran Hung Dao Street, Hanoi
Tel.No. : (84-4) 3943 7873
Fax No. : (84-4) 3943 5760
Email : hnpe2000@gmail.com; pe.hanoi@dfa.gov.ph

or visit the following websites:

DFA Overseas Absentee Voting Secretariat (Manila) : www.dfa.gov.ph
Hotlines: +632 833 0914, +632 832 8363

COMELEC-COAV (Manila) : www.comelec.gov.ph
Hotlines: +632 522 2251, +632 521 2952, +632 523 9924